Watchdog Calls For Viewers To Desert ‘Sleazy’ Channel 4
Channel 4 has come under fire from a media watchdog which has branded its programming ‘sleazy’ and is calling for the withdrawal of the broadcaster’s licence.
Mediawatch-UK, previously known as the National Viewers’ and Listeners’ Association, was founded by infamous taste and decency campaigner Mary Whitehouse in 1965. The organisation is now calling for advertisers and sponsors to withdraw funding and for regulators to take action against Channel 4’s ‘standards-busting’ programmes.
Issuing the organisation’s stinging attack on Channel 4, John Beyer, Mediawatch-UK’s director, lampooned programmes such as Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, Bo Selecta, Wife Swap and Big Brother for their inclusion of ‘streams of obscene language.’
He said: “Parliament has spent many months drafting and scrutinising the Communications Act and it is clear from this that broadcasting standards do matter. Channel 4 is showing a complete disregard for civilised values and contempt for standards. Since the Secretary of State will not intervene it is time for those who regulate and fund the channel to act decisively for the common good”.
High on Beyer’s list of complaints was Channel 4’s broadcasting of sexual scenes in films such as, Goodfellas, Trainspotting and Crash. The watchdog also blasted the broadcaster’s recent documentary, Sex with Strangers, which featured three couples engaging in ‘swinging’. Beyer branded the broadcast as irresponsible as it was shown “at a time when STI’s among the middle aged are rising fast.”
The current series of Channel 4’s Big Brother has previously been in the spotlight, thanks to rioting housemates and bad language throughout. Ofcom is currently investigating the broadcast of the now infamous Big Brother Fight, while a police inquiry into the incident is also understood to be underway (see Ofcom Investigating Big Brother As Over 100 Complain).
However, the formula appears to be working well for Channel 4 and the latest viewing figures from BARB show the channel enjoying a remarkable start to the year with its audience share rising by 2.8% to 9.77% after a string of hit programmes (see Channel 4 And Five Benefit From Viewer Migration).
Channel Four: 020 7396 4444 www.channel4.com Mediawatch-UK: 01233 633 936 www.mediawatchuk.orgRecent Television Stories from NewsLine Almost 25 Million Watch England’s Bitter Euro 2004 Defeat Ofcom Investigating Big Brother As Over 100 Complain Advertisers Welcome Report On Contract Rights Renewal
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